ISOBOB

[Robertspark]

Good point, guess a sprung loaded connection (rj11/rj45) is more prone to oxidisation over time... guess less of an issue with a high speed Ethernet cable with error detection built in.... hmmm ? ... stick with my screw terminals as I have I guess (think that bob above has rj45s for the drives through)

[cncdrive]

That is interesting and quite the opposite of ME. I prefer screw type terminals for a PERFECT connection. I have had and seen a LOT of connection problems with RJ45 connectors over a range of applications NOT RELATED to ethernet where teh ethernet can repeat teh signal IF it cannot read it.

RJ connectors can be really problematic if not the proper kind/type is used.
I mean for ethernet connection a bit loose or oxidated connection may be not a huge problem, but to transfer e.g. step signals to a machine tool it must connect always perfectly.
We studied lots of different RJ connectors and we found this type the best: http://lomex.hu/pdf/(t-t)_mod88lp-1-se.pdf
What makes this connector really great is that the pins are bent backwards about fully to the back of the connector shell and the pins are bent in a high angle.
Also the pins are gold plated.
This connector connects perfectly in all circumstances and never loosen up.
We've used probably a few tens of thousands of these over the years in servo drives, diff.line drivers and other types of applications.
And the funny thing is that this connector costs fractions of e.g. Molex brand connectors which are not even close in performance.

[ger21]

idiotproof is really what the DIY market is after in my opinion....

Imo, there are two very different DIY markets.

One that wants everything simple and easy (and often very cheap), and one that wants really good stuff, and is willing to pay for it.
Simple and easy usually does not go hand in hand with high performance.

[ger21]

I just talked to Arturo@cnc4pc again discussing the issue with the M44 and it seems I missunderstood their circuit a bit,
so it seems we found the solution and can resolve it in firmware, started working on it now...

So with a firmware update, my M44 should work fine, without adding all the resistors that Arturo said it needed?

[cncdrive]

So with a firmware update, my M44 should work fine, without adding all the resistors that Arturo said it needed?

Yes, please don't add any resistors and don't change anything on the M44. Arturo described me his initial idea of changing out resistors, but that idea was not good, that will resolve nothing.
Now that I see the issue and the M44 circuit clearly we know what the issue is and will resolve it in firmware and then it will work OK.

[ger21]

The market for Analog would be a fraction of the market for a Step/Dir version.
They'd also need to add Analog servo support, unless the ISO had converters in it.

[Battwell]

I've had success using a galil controller using step dir input and gearing the motion to it
Not tried on a machine yet to see how well it works in the real world!

I have a Biesse 321 to convert here. Way too expensive to replace the analogue drives
Hopefully a new year project

[ger21]

Speaking with a lot of my friends in the UK, is seems that the lack of a high quality breakout board is keeping them from trying UCCNC.
Many of them are using CS Labs products with Mach3, so higher cost is not an issue.
Mach3 is a dying product, and not many are willing to move to Mach4.
Adding the ISOBOB to your product line could help to bring a lot of higher end Mach3 users to UCCNC.

[cncdrive]

Gerry,

But you know you can connect any generic breakout boards to the IDC26 ports of the -5LPT motherboard.
On the UC300ETH-5LPT there are both normal and input type ports, so basicly any type of LPT port compatible breakout boards are connectable.

[ger21]

Yes, but many people would like a single "industrial quality" board like the ISOBOB, rather than a mix of boards from 3rd party vendors.